Croatia have been drawn against Greece in the two-legged November playoff. The first leg will be played Thursday, November 9th from Maksimir Stadion in Zagreb at 1:45PM (ET). The return leg will be three days later in Greece on November 12th at 2:45PM (ET).
The winner goes to the World Cup next summer in Russia while the loser stays home.
In other playoff matches, Northern Ireland take on Switzerland, Republic of Ireland face Denmark and Sweden will battle Italy.
Sorry, meant to type Zvonimir.
@ Kralj Tomislav – My Monte Carlo simulator says you have a 86% chance of being right.
That was when Simunic made the GREATEST tackle in Vatreni history lmao 😉
I looked into my crystal ball and made the following predictions before the two play-off games:
Croatia win 2-0 in Zagreb. Croatia draw 1-1 in Gayreece.
Also, gayreeks and serbitches are making love to one another all night long, pumping their semen in each other’s arse, sucking balls and having a gay old party. They are so fond of each other because they are equally stupid and they also have a lot of Turkish DNA flowing through their veins. Admittedly, serbitches are the people with highest percentage of Turkish DNA after the Turks themselves. Serbitchia should have a lot more mosques and kebab shops than presently in respect of their true ethnicity and religion. My crystal ball also said that the Truth aka Ziva aka I’m a dumb trolling serbian half-turk will come onto this site after the two play-off games and say “I told you guys that Croatia had a fifty-fifty chance of winning…see? I was right”… Anyone care to counter-predict my predictions? Nah… you know I’m right.
who gives 2 shits about winning under 20 world cup, you guys have been irrelevant in soccer for a very long long time…Also, why are you watching every croatia game…another serbo turbo obsessed with cro? Last serbia game I watched was when Joe “Veliki Hrvat” Simunic…..took care of business…Now go crawl back under a bridge troll…
@Jarac Our team is improving we have alot of young talent coming up dont forget Serbia won the Under 20 World Cup in 2015. As for the group we had a harder group then Croatia and we won the group. Top priority is to qualify who is in the group its not in our hands. Nobody every says to teams like Germany Italy Spain you had an easy group. Croatia is at about 50% chance to qualify and i say this since last game is played in Greece. I watched your games vs Turkey vs Iceland vs Šiptars and Finland you guys didn’t look good at all.
You got it Toronto Croatia. Good stuff. But man that was fun at those games.
@zee and Mile i remember those times during the basketball Championships in Toronto. I was in attendance.
The teen Greek fans there were idiots ..even disrespecting the Canadian flag.
How do you seperate the men from the boys in Greece? …. with a Cro bar.
Serbs are Vlachs!
Serbs are turks….been fucked by the turks for centuries…..Also don’t be fooled you team is fucking weak…you were in the weakest group in qualifiers…
Serbs and Croats same? Yugo bullshit!
Pretty sure both games are at 2:45pm ET.
@Bykobap
If Croats are just Catholic Serbs, why call them Croats then, call them Serbs, call them what you believe they are?
An example, Serbs call themselves Christian, I call them schismatic/heretic/antichrists, Serbs call themselves orthodox, I call them unorthodox. There is nothing orthodox about a Serb and his national Church.
The big difference between us is, that Croats are waiting for the harvest with patience unto the time of winnowing, where as Serbs being antichrists have no care for the teachings of Christ. So it’s always been about Christian Croats vs Anti-Christian Serbs. If you study theology you would know that it is the schismatic that is filled with hate, not the Catholic, the Catholic prefers unity/peace.
You know the Montanists used to call themselves Christian, in Truth they were no such thing.
Language, race, you can shove all that up your arse, it’s just a way little children argue to divert the Croats attention from what really matters and that is that Serbs are antichrists, where it matters Croats and Serbs are nothing alike.
Couple of questions for ya, how were Serbs hoping for salvation before their national Church came along, and, were their any Serbs before their was a Serbian national Church?
Ya ok keep telling yourself that with your fakebelieve history only recognized by Serbs. Ya and Peter Pan and Santa Claus are also Serbian. That’s why you changed over to Christianity from Paganism after us right ? Serbs think everyone is Serbian. Years ago we originally sounded more like Polaks and you sounded more like Bulgars. I’ll admit we sound more similar to you the last 100 years after you tried to cedowash us. Other than that you’re Bulgarian, just like Macedonia is. Maceodonia is originally Greek and “found” their national identity less than 100 years ago. They’re just Slavic Bulgarians who moved into Macedonia and wanted their own identity.
If there are 10 people in a room and 9 people say the same guy is full of shit either all 9 people are idiots or that 1 guy is full of shit.
I’ll let you figure out whose who.
Hey congrats on your PM and the parade. She’s quite the looker.
https://zlj13051967.wordpress.com/2013/12/14/dubrovacki-kalendar1-jpg/
Bosniaks are Serbs that converted to Islam due to the Turkish occupation Till 95 they didn’t have an identity. Same goes for you guys but it dates further back.
Besides religion we are different then the the Greeks just like you are different then Italians but we Serbs and Croatians are the same besides the religion that is a result of the Empires clashing on our lands. We are same blood brothers that kinda dont get along.
Croatians are decedent’s of Serbians its been proven that we share the same DNA. Even the language its all originally Serbian there was no such a thing as Bosnian Montenegrin language and so on. You are all pretty much Catholic Serbs.
Lika joey . Agrèed
@ Lika Joey – Ya it’s funny because Serbs hug Greek balls while Greeks want zero association with anyone who isn’t Greek deep down inside. To them we’re all barbarians so it makes me laugh when Serbs go nuts for Greeks simply because they are Orthodox. Serbian DNA is closer to Turk than anything.
That’s like us going crazy for Italians because we’re Catholic meanwhile Italians think the same thing about us.
I’m loving the mention of Croatians and Albanians going at it with Serbs and Greeks…we would fucking destroy you goofs.
Lican iz Toronto, respect brother…i’m texting while driving…fucking Greece! If we can’t beat these PILLOW BITERS we dont deserve to go to Russia.
Its ok fellas we will prevail!
@ Вуковар – why are you even on this site? Why are you Serbs so fascinated with us ? Never in my life have I spent time on any sort of Serbian website. Aside from trolling, there is no logic. You should be happy you qualified and finished first at something other than being the most hated country in the Balkans with Turkey – Albanians don’t like you, we don’t like you, Slovenians don’t like you, BIH Muslims don’t like you – I tako dalje.
You’re going to lose Vojvodina and Sandzak soon anyways.
Smerdija – pretending we’re someone we’re not since forever.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=p9AvGrk8EA8 – and we all know how the US responded. Know you’re role Cedo Charlie.
Ok there’s your reaction. No more responses from me to trolls (only Truth because he’s funny sometime with his “simulations.” I just had to get one out there.
Bykobap, Modric…Rakitic…Mandzukic…Kovacic…Perisic…Brozovic…Lovren…Vrlsajko…to name a few…pillow biter this is another level! Even Belgium isn’t this stacked. Kramaric hitting form.
Ya but you gotta lose one day. Its this year remember what i said.
Honestly we didn’t come this far to fuck it up now. We’ve NEVER lost a playoff before and we’ve won four. You guys are FUCKED.
Don’t forget that Greece has won a Euro Champions people doubted them then just like you guys doubt them now. I personally don’t think that Croatia is that great anymore dont be fooled just by the Ukraine game you looked like garbage against Šiptars,Turkey and Iceland Even Finland stuck it to you late to take direct qualification away. Croatia plays the underdog game better then being favorite. Should be a good set of matches but i don’t see Croatia progressing.
@lika joey
Ur the best brother!
Gordon Hayward
“I love Greek football.”
Said no non-Greek ever.
Nobody wants to see that garbage in Russia.
Croatians are on another level in sports…greeks might have been good 1000 years ago…we excel at everything…boxing…mma…skiing…basketball…waterpolo..tennis…etc…two Croatian players are worth more than the entire Greek squad…Bykobap you guys excel at homosexual intercourse…the Greeks are pillow biters…your history is dirty ass fucking.
Right you are Zee
It’s our time again.
Vis. You might be correct. As zvonimir boban said its time. Gotta listen to the greatest!
Sorry Croatians unfortunately this will be a World Cup that you will miss , first leg will be a tie maybe even second leg but Greece will advance on a away goal.
Croatia is going to be in the World Cup Semi-Finals.
I love how we descriptively shit on every country we have to play lol.
Ajmo Hrvatska!
@DinamoDennis
You’re the guy that wants fists in his ass and you’re asking me if I am retarded? Interesting.
@DinamoDennis
“remember when I asked you if you were retarded…”
You can ask all you want, it will not help you any.
remember when I asked you if you were retarded…
@DinamoDennis
“Name calling ?? I was merely asking a question.”
You were being derogatory, same difference and not that I care.
“Honestly though…its really comes down to you saying he has no offensive flare. That’s plain wrong or you’re being dishonest.”
Far from wrong, he would need skill to have offensive flair. If he had so much of this offensive flair you keep mentiong, why did he not play any game for Napoli last year? Also, he is more known as a shut down type player. Shut down type players are not known for their offense skill or ability. They are shut down players for a reason.
His crosses are some of the worst around, and he has not scored any goals for our national side. Where is the offensive flair?
“So whats the point of arguing if you cant be honest ?”
Who’s arguing? And I am brutally honest.
“And your comparisons suuuuuuckkk. I’m all about comparisons but yours were just bad, especially the girlfriend wife one LOL!”
And yet you are still drowning.
“Strinic is more like that girlfriend that always gives you head but just wont stick a finger in your butt while shes doing it..”
If you want a finger or fists in your ass that is up to you. Personally I don’t want any part of that but whatever floats your boat.
“Its still good your getting head but..you gotta step it up a bit.”
Stepping it up a bit means to have many women available at you beck and call to service. But you would not understand that.
you want things inserted in your arse?
Name calling ?? I was merely asking a question.
Honestly though…its really comes down to you saying he has no offensive flare. That’s plain wrong or you’re being dishonest.
So whats the point of arguing if you cant be honest ?
And your comparisons suuuuuuckkk. I’m all about comparisons but yours were just bad, especially the girlfriend wife one LOL!
Strinic is more like that girlfriend that always gives you head but just wont stick a finger in your butt while shes doing it..
Its still good your getting head but..you gotta step it up a bit.
Вуковар is just a trolling Serbian kid.
Вуковар is cyrillic for Vukovar.
Greeks don’t know what Vukovar is, let alone what cyrillic is (actually most people don’t know what cyrillic is).
@Mile:
“Guys, this is the reverse of 20 years ago. We beat out Greece for second in our group and then played Ukraine in the playoffs. Now we beat out Ukraine for second place and play Greece in the playoffs. And the first game was at home against Ukraine back then”
Dont forget, back in 2009, during qualifying for South Africa, Ukraine beat us out to 2nd place after england basically gifted them a result. Ukraine also drew Greece in that playoff. In Athens, they played 0-0, and in Kiev Greece advanced with a 1-0 win. Its meaningless now, but i just find it crazy all the implications all 3 countries have had on each other over the years.
I predict a nail biting 2 matches, 1-0 in Zagreb and 1-1 in Piraeus for the good guys.
@CiganJeCigan
“Vukovar doesn’t know what he is talking about. He claims Strinic “has absolutely no offensive flair on the wings at all.” If you’ve ever watched Strinic play, the problem is that he has too much offensive “flair” and is over confident.”
LOL!!!! Yep, that is it! LOL! That was classic! He’s far too clumsy to be that over confident.
“Vukovar also says “Please explain what he has done for us offensively. Cue the crickets.”
Strinic gave the cross to Mandzukic to tie against Italy.”
In 39 games he gave us a lucky cross that should have been knocked away by Chiellini, but he mistimed the header. Wow, that is so amazing! So his only contribution in 39 games was due to a mistake by the defender.
“Strinic “Provided the assist to Gillet at the end of the half to let Belgium tie us in the WC 2014 qualifiers against Belgium”
As a defender you never want to head the ball down the middle of the pitch,”
But that is what he did.
“but there was miscommunication among the defense and Rodasevic was completely asleep and wasn’t marking his man on the 18.”
Yep, it was Radosevic’s fault! LOL! So it must have been Radosevic’s fault against Portugal and Turkey as well?LOL!!!!!
All Strinic had to do against Belgium was let the ball go over his head, as there was nobody behind him, and the half would have ended. In the same manner with our first game against the Turks in the WC 2018 qualifiers. All he had to do was put the ball out of play and the half would have ended. Instead of playing the ball back towards the middle of the field which I still cannot believe he did.
Thank you for the comedy though.
@Vukovar
“what?! This is silly.. what are you talking abnout Haha!”
Strinic and his national team career moments.
“Are you that retarded ?”
Name calling, interesting.
“Why don’t you just say you don’t like him.”
Making accurrate points about a subject or a player means that I don’t like them? It has nothing to do with liking or disliking but everything to do with truth and objectivity.
If I say that a player strikes out too much in baseball it does not mean that I don’t like him. It means that he strikes out often.
“Instead of trying to back your opinion up with nonsense.”
All points are accurate and are not nonsensical, as you are firmly aware.
“I’m not saying strinic is the king but not to have him on the repka is just a stupid thing to say.”
That is like saying that someone should get married or have a girlfriend, (even though the potential wife or girlfriend is insane), just for the sake of having a wife or a girlfriend.
“Just say you don’t like him and be done with it. That’s cool.”
I have nothing against him as I don’t know him. Merely making accurate points about his play.
“I don’t like Mandzukic. I wish he never gets called up again.”
That is your choice.
“But to say hes shouldnt be there would be wrong because the stats suggest he should.”
That is not an apples to apples comparison. Manzdukic produces for his league and the national side, and is a star player where Strinic is not. The only way Strinic made it to Italy was through a free transfer. Once again, more acurrate proof having nothing to do with liking or disliking.
His mistakes and below average play out weigh anything he is doing this year in the league and I am not going to fall into the Orwellian trap of forgetting his past play.
BUT…
Dalic will call him up, and I hope he plays well in the playoffs and we get through to the World Cup.
@DinamoDennis
I agree with you.
Vukovar doesn’t know what he is talking about. He claims Strinic “has absolutely no offensive flair on the wings at all.” If you’ve ever watched Strinic play, the problem is that he has too much offensive “flair” and is over confident.
Vukovar also says “Please explain what he has done for us offensively. Cue the crickets.”
Strinic gave the cross to Mandzukic to tie against Italy.
Strinic “Provided the assist to Gillet at the end of the half to let Belgium tie us in the WC 2014 qualifiers against Belgium”
As a defender you never want to head the ball down the middle of the pitch, but there was miscommunication among the defense and Rodasevic was completely asleep and wasn’t marking his man on the 18.
…as my usual self I’m gonna make a comment about Maribor. they’re currently losing 5-0 to Liverpool and while its no biggie in my books, the Dinamo haters would be relishing if it were Dinamo getting smashed.
the bigger point here is that Maribor made money getting that far…so they’re losing, they’re expected to!
It is now time to break the bunker .
Strinic at LB is IDEAL against bunker.
He natural overlaps and puts in solid crosses.
Rebić and Vlašić are Splićani beasts that can run at anyone.
Call me crazy but I have full faith in Dalić to put out an attacking line up.
Just Modrić up the pitch is a major (albeit obvious) shift.
Mandžukić up top to start for the first 45 minutes and feed him early and often.
Then we’ll see at half time what needs to shift ?
Is it time for a tactical shift ?
3-5-2
Greeks will be scouting the predictable Čačić / Kovač / Štimac / Bilić Croatia.
The Dalić vatreni version could be a whole new animal with attacking teeth !
_________Kramaric__________Mandzukic
_________________Modric
Perisc __________________________Vrsaljko
_________Rakitic ________Rog
__________Strinic___Vida____Lovren
Bench – Brozovic, Badelj, Rebić, Pasalic, Vlašić, Kalinic
Subs – as the situation calls for?
In my day, no society could compare to ancient Greece. Keyword there is “ancient”. As soon as the dirty muslims raped our women, all the great greeks moved West to Croatia, Italy, and other areas.
Modern Greece needs loans from Merkel to keep their country afloat. Keyword there: Merkel!
Vukovar
what?! This is silly.. what are you talking abnout Haha!
Are you that retarded ? Why don’t you just say you don’t like him. Instead of trying to back your opinion up with nonsense.
I’m not saying strinic is the king but not to have him on the repka is just a stupid thing to say.
Just say you don’t like him and be done with it. That’s cool.
I don’t like Mandzukic. I wish he never gets called up again.
But to say hes shouldnt be there would be wrong because the stats suggest he should.
win on the pitch and win in the stands- it’s gonna be a beauty especially if it gets crazy- flares, firecrackers, and even burnt offerings-wow- can’t wait to hear the british announcers describe the shenanigans- a little flying soulvaki -gotta love the greek food – and very healthy for you- we got to give them some love.
@Bykobap/Bibimbop
A fair fight?! Ha! Of all the Greeks I’ve known I’m seriously struggling to picture one that’s not obese and useless. U pigs can’t even keep your economy in order due to your laziness.
And I’m not one to usually defend Albanians but those fuckers are tough. I’ll definitely give them that. An Albanian smashes a Greek 99 times out of 100.
So glad we drew these slobs..
My analysis for the matchup;
Greeks are imbred trolls. Everyone I’ve ever known is a fat hairy ugly mama’s boy. The most famous thing they’re known for is homosexuality.
Congratulations.
@mile. Couldn’t have said it better brother. Zivili!
The good old days of the ’90s – being young, able to consume copious amounts of alcohol and the Croatian basketball and soccer teams were awesome. We need a reboot!
@Mile. I was probably close to you. Man that was awesome!
Oh mile. You got it brother! I still remember that chant cigani cigani. I was howling. Oh good times!
That was fun times. I remember all the Croatians gathering around after Croatia destroyed Greece by 26 points – all of them chanting “Cigani, Cigani, Cigani!”. And then for good measure, Croatia destroyed them again by 18 points for the bronze medal.
I remember in the mid nineties at the world basketball championship in Toronto we were outnumbered bad. Then all of a sudden the checkers showed up in full force just drowned out the Greeks. Cops everywhere. It was nuts. Oh good times.
Greeks can comment all they want! On the scoreboard of life we win on a simple count our women are gorgeous and the greek women look like greek men! Appopiso!
It’s gonna be fandomonium. Go hrv!
The trolls probably aren’t even Greek. Greeks in Canada (Toronto area) could give a shit about visiting a Croatian soccer site to talk about how great their culture is. If you truly believe you’re surperior you’re not on a Croatian sports chat talking about it which gives you away. I have Greek friends who are oblivious to this website nor do they care. I don’t know if that’s the same for Greeks in Astoria.
It’s Truth, Turkey, Ziva or some Serbian person.
The focus is on the next 2 games. Makes for fun shit talking though.
1st leg Croatia 2-0
2nd leg 1-1
Idemo – you willing to put some money on that?
we lose in pks
Can’t wait to watch these nil nil matches.
My guess is we take it to pks in Greece.
I think like 6 of our players speak English
The draw just took place and the negativity is already at 100% here. I hope our players dont visit this site.
I doubt over 20 serbs will go…..now that greek sectors and Serbian clubs have brotherhood and the greeks will be going for them is what is happening
Again, leave the trolls alone. When Croatia beats Greece (and in doing so knock the Serbs to a #4 seed), they will disappear – until about June.
Socrates, at the end of the day your a pillow biter…Greece and it’s people are genetically inferior…wow lots of Greeks and Serbs dominating combat sports…lol…average height in Greece is what? 4ft11
Fair fight Croatia and Albania would not stand a chance. Only with the help of USA ,Germany NATO you could. Just look at the air power Im not sure if that one Croatia Mig still flies.
Croatians and Albanians would destroy Greece and Serbia!
@DinamoDennis
“I mean … you would have said the same thing for Kramaric 2 weeks ago..”
No I would not have, he has talent, something Strinic will never have, and he scores in his league play and for our national side. And Cacic should have been playing him more often.
“if a players performs at the club level you need them on the team.”
Dalic will call him, but to say he is an offensive talent is ridiculous!
“Your logic is if they don’t perform for Cro don’t call them up…this is flawed logic.”
It is not flawed, it is on a case by case basis.
I ask again, what has Strinic every done for us offensively? He has played in 39 games for us, which is more than enough time to show something, and what has he done?
Defensively I know what he has done.
Provided the assist to Gillet at the end of the half to let Belgium tie us in the WC 2014 qualifiers against Belgium
Coughed up the ball up against Portugal in order to pave the way for our loss to knock us out of Euro 2016
Setup the free kick for the Turks that tied the game in our first WC 2018 qualifying game.
So much for being flawed. There is no flaw in evidence or proof.
Croatia stands no chance.
greeks are a far superior people and culture.
lets compare what Greece and Croatia have each achieved in their history
Greece. Founded democracy and philosophy. Established one of the largest empires of all time. Contributed some of the greatest artistic, academic, and athletic achievement ever know, including founding the Olympics.
Croatia: managed to be taken over by country to country for over a thousand years. Finally attempting to get their own country in the 1940s through mass killing and rape of innocent women and children. Finally got independence in the 1990s through an illegal, human rights abusive movement and the west handing them their country finally.
I give this one to Greece. Just like the football match to come
Mile great posts!
We have to score early. Lately we have been bad when other teams park the bus, AND when we park the bus. Dalic needs to deploy a big boy back line similar to what we did with Ukraine.
@Vukovar & DD- Strinic thinks he is great offensively, that is the problem. He constantly goes up field & never hustles back to cover his flank.
His stats at Sampdoria do not surprise me, given how aggressive he is. He is not bad offensively, but we need Perisic and the like, not worrying about covering for Strinic/Pivaric. This is why I liked Vrsaljko at LB, he didn’t take the ball too deep on the left side.
@Anonymous Croatia and Albanians against Serbs and Greeks ? Idk about you or any other Croatians. But I DONT WANT TO HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH ALBANIANS. i love on New Jersey Literally 5 minute drive to NYC. ALBANIANARE DIRTY MOTHERFUCKERS. Around here they don’t fuck with Croatian. The hate is cause we’re Catholic
I’m not worried about Greece from a technical point of view. On paper Croatia is much better. On paper that is. It’s the psychological game I don’t like. They use the dark arts better than we do like Turkey, Mexico and any other Spanish speaking country from South America. I’m not worried about Greece beating us but Croatia losing to them selves due to mental frailty in dirty/chippy games when a team gets under our skin. Those games can cause us to lose focus. At the end of the day though as Dannyj mentioned above it’s s good test before the World Cup. Beating Greece would be a bigger accomplishment in my opinion than any of those other teams simply because of the game they play and the fact that we generally don’t perform well in dirt ball Cigan fest games. It seems Cro prefers to be the team playing against a better side where we have to be chippy to ruffle the opposition. Not the other way around where we’re expected to be the better team (pressure is on us) and the other team has to throw us a monkey wrench – again Turks, Mexicans, Greeks, Ecuador etc.
All in all as much as I don’t like it, if we can’t beat Greece over 2 legs we shouldn’t be at the WC anyways. It would be a huge mental boost if we could get this monkey of our back and show some real character when it matters most.
Your right mile
Maybe we get some luck from fan controversy and second game is played in the quiet which would def favor us
My guess is the Greeks won’t have the balls to start shit in cro though
I think there is a fear that Greece is the same one from when they won euro. Well we ain’t the 98 team either
Times change.
I think dalic has us organized. This guy while maybe not the most experienced coach according to wiki got some awards and turned some teams round in the Middle East
One can argue that may be harder. He has never had his hands on the talent he has now
He appeared confident in the one interview I saw. Confidence inspires confidence. It’s what the boys need right now. We are good enough to beat anyone in the world on a two game playoff if we are on our game.
Have faith boys Good growing opportunity for the boys!
If you think about it, maybe it’s better we are home first. If it was in Greece first, maybe some shit happens in their stadium with our fans and theirs/Serbs and then we get sanctioned and get an empty stadium or worse for the return leg. Let’s get a win at home without incident and then finish the job in Greece.
Wasn’t surprised at all. I do believe Greeks are the hardest team especially for us with their bunker style
But u know what we need to get over this can’t beat a bunker
I agree get the young guys in who aren’t afraid of going one on one and trying for speed
We are not fast but I do think we are still faster and more creative then the last time we played them
Maybe mandzo can ask the Italians at juve how to beat that ugly bus
We will fir sure have midfield possession we just have to keep throwing rocks at the bus the windows will eventually break
Either way ajmo and zds
I agree only thing I would have wanted to see is first game on road. To figure out how to break em but oh well it is what it is
ZDS baby baby!
First of all, ignore the trolls, they come here to get a rise out of everyone. Leave them be and they will go away.
Secondly, why are people here scared of Greece? They suck. If we lose to them, then we suck and don’t deserve to go to Russia. Croatia will outplay them, have many more chances, and hopefully they capitalize. I’m not worried.
I mean … you would have said the same thing for Kramaric 2 weeks ago..
if a players performs at the club level you need them on the team.
Your logic is if they don’t perform for Cro don’t call them up…this is flawed logic.
..
worst possible draw, don’t see us winning…
@DinamoDennis
“Vukovar – ” He (Strinic) has absolutely no offensive flair”
Please explain what he has done for us offensively.
Cue the crickets.
And his crosses against Portugal were some of the worst I have ever witnessed.
Strinic – most assists this year for Sampdoria
Strinic – 4th most crosses this year only behind the three starting midfielders who have all played almost double the amount of games as Strinic
Vukovar – ” He (Strinic) has absolutely no offensive flair”
Yeah, we fuck em and then you use the meat to make gyros at your Sunday picnics to feed your family.
Croatians are a bunch of dirty goat fuckers just like Albanians.
Croats and albanians vs serbs and Greeks………let’s get ready to rumble!!
@ Dejan M – Dates are confirmed. Listed on UEFA.
I hate the fucking Greeks with their lame negative anti-football bunkering crap… that will make it even better when we knock them out!
Ajmo Vatreni!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I watch a lot of Benfica/Porto/Sporting games at the Portuguese club here in Gloucester, Ma. The one player Croatia needs to be aware of is Benfica’s striker Mitroglou. Can score from anywhere, very intelligent in his positioning
With Greece expected to Bunker I’d like to see someone like Stipe Perica in the lineup – another tall striker along with Mandzukic for them to worry about with all the crosses into the area.
If we score one goal in Athens, we should be fine.
Mile
Don’t think those dates are finalized
@Вуковар
“Party on the Danforth in Toronto on the 12 of November go Greece.”
Whatever you say Karagounis, you handsome individual you!
LOL!!!!!!
idemo
Party on the Danforth in Toronto on the 12 of November go Greece.
Dates are finalized – Thursday November 9 and Sunday November 12.
@Maminjo
“Yea, he said Vlasic and Rebic for sure…”
No arguments with either of those two!!
“and Strinic and Leovac to pump up that LB side (along with Barisic when he gets back).”
He will call Strinic for sure, but I like the scouting inside info Leovac can provide considering where he plays his football. More of a consulting job rather than player role. 🙂
Barisic should have been given a chance already but this is what happens when we lack forward thinking.
Yea, he said Vlasic and Rebic for sure…and Strinic and Leovac to pump up that LB side (along with Barisic when he gets back).
@Maminjo
“If there is any time to call up hungry youngsters and wing/flank players, now is the time.
Vlasic, Rebic, Tudor, Strinic all need to be called up.”
I agree with all of those call ups with the exception of Strinic. He has absolutely no offensive flair on the wings at all. Strinic is more of a shut down player which is not what we need against the Gerks.
Dalic will call him though.
Dalic has stated he is looking to give vlasic, rebic, strinic, and leosko whatever an opportunity
I’m fine with the draw. Second game in Greece put oressur on them not to concede. If our guys keep a clean sheet at home, we’ll be fine.
Just hope for no key injuries between now and those two games in November. Put the boys in bubble wrap.
If there is any time to call up hungry youngsters and wing/flank players, now is the time.
Vlasic, Rebic, Tudor, Strinic all need to be called up.
I’m not concerned with Greece beating us, because they are unlikely to do so.
I’m more concerned with guys like Modric getting injured by Greece’s dirty style of play OR our players getting frustrated and picking up a ton of yellow cards and missing the first game of the World Cup.
On top of this, yea, I’m not looking forward to a grimey, smothering anti-football match.
They are celebrating on the streets of Athens
My models has this as essentially a 50/50 split. Personally, i would give the edge to Greece.
The Greeks are masters of setting football back in time, parking the bus and muddying the game up.
Croatia is a terrible bunker fighting team with essentially no players that can create one on one and shift the defense and a very weak aerial attack to go over the top of the bunker
I guess the Croatian fans can take solace in that if it doesn’t work out, a lot of teams qualify for the euro
Guys, this is the reverse of 20 years ago. We beat out Greece for second in our group and then played Ukraine in the playoffs. Now we beat out Ukraine for second place and play Greece in the playoffs. And the first game was at home against Ukraine back then.
I’m predicting the same result – 2-0 at home and 1-1 in Greece.
@Marko
I don’t think Serbs will make trouble with our fans rooting for Greece. I know they are Pravo Slavac brothers. But Serbia has a damn goood team and they won their group. I would think Serbia would want Croatia to qualify. Who knows??? If we do make the World Cup. We might just play Serbia. That’ll be awesome!!!!!
We never pay Greece well. Remember last time qualifications for Euro 2012. We tied that at home, jelavic scored but they ruled him offside in Zagreb. Then we lost to them 1-0 in Greece. I remember that game in Greece. A lotta of Croatian fans got bombarded and got beaten up by Greek fans. So this is a revenge game!!!!!
Greece always plays organized. They are good with set pieces. And they bunker down better then the Italians. So WE MUST SCORE FIRST!!!
Last time they threw bombs at us and FIFA did nothing.
so LAknat always right becoming almost right…
does that mean it will be a bad luck for Croatia?
better if we play vs Sweden and leave the rest according to my drawing prediction.So we are gonna stick to my plan using my magnificent roster and lines up!
Wait for the crowd trouble too on both legs of this tie – whether it’s from our own idiots or from Serbs supporting Greece. That’s going to be a big wildcard for what happens to us on or off the pitch and I really fear for that. It wouldn’t be so likely if we got any of the other three draws.
We are 99% at the WC
Bad draw. Greece will be fired up to beat us. They embarrassed us last time we played.
yeh sweden beat us 3-1 i think in a friendly there
reasonably happy with the draw, wanted to avoid sweden
but i can see greece being stingy cunts and getting a 0-0 draw or something in zagreb which would be a pain in the left gonad
I wanted one of the Irish, but rather have Greece than Sweden. If i recall last time Sweden was at Maksimir it didn’t go well for us!
The only thing I don’t like it being at home first. Greece will park the bus. If Greece was at home first, they would have to play a little. Hoping for something like 2-0 for us at home in the first game. Then we should be OK. Just don’t allow Greece to score in the first game. That would be tough going back there.
My only concern is problems with the fans. I’m sure there will be Serbs inGreece again!
I want Greece. If we can’t beat Greece ffs, then we don’t deserve to go to Russia. Plus, if we beat them, Serbia is assured of a #4 seed. Double bonus. Italy got the worst draw in Sweden.
so are we at home first? it looked like we are to me, would’ve preferred it the other way round
Someone here called it yesterday- let the conspiracies theories begin-
“Too many team from that area”
We get Greece.
actually i am watching now haha
GREECE
well most ppl didnt want that
Of course my man…
Can’t really be bothered watching a draw i dun think but im sure you’ll update the page when draw is known, Ante, cheers m8 😀